The Centre for Fine Arts (french: Palais des Beaux-Arts, nl, Paleis voor Schone Kunsten) is a multi-purpose cultural venue in Brussels, Belgium. It is often referred to as BOZAR (a

homophone A homophone () is a word that is pronounced the same (to varying extent) as another word but differs in meaning. A ''homophone'' may also differ in spelling. The two words may be spelled the same, for example ''rose'' (flower) and ''rose'' (p ...

of ''Beaux-arts'') in French or PSK in Dutch. The building was designed by the architect Victor Horta, and completed in 1929 at the instigation of the banker and patron of the arts

Henry Le Bœuf Henry Le Bœuf (1874 in Schaerbeek – 1935) was a Belgian banker, patron of the arts and music lover. The stepson of Albert Thys, whose daughter Louise he married, he left his name to the Main Hall of the 2,200-seat Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels ...

. It includes exhibition and conference rooms, a cinema and a concert hall, which serves as home to the

National Orchestra of Belgium The Belgian National Orchestra ( nl, Nationaal Orkest van België, french: Orchestre National de Belgique) is a Belgian orchestra, based in Brussels. Its principal concert venue is the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts (Bozar). The orchestra also gi ...

History

Construction (1923–1929)

Victor Horta began designing the Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels following World War I, in a more geometric style than his previous works, similar to Art Deco. The

Belgian Parliament The Federal Parliament is the bicameral parliament of Belgium. It consists of the Chamber of Representatives (Dutch: , french: Chambre des Représentants, german: Abgeordnetenkammer) and the Senate (Dutch: , french: Sénat, german: Senat). It s ...

initially denied funding for the plans. With the founding of the ''Société du Palais des Beaux-Arts'' in 1922, the project was revived. Construction started in 1923,''Horta: Art Nouveau to Modernism'', Harry N Abrams, albeit with several restrictions: the Brussels authorities supplied a very irregular area on the slope between the city's upper and the lower part, the main facade had to house shopping facilities, and the height of the building was restricted so as not to compromise the King's view of Brussels' skyline from the

Royal Palace This is a list of royal palaces, sorted by continent. Africa * Abdin Palace, Cairo * Al-Gawhara Palace, Cairo * Koubbeh Palace, Cairo * Tahra Palace, Cairo * Menelik Palace * Jubilee Palace * Guenete Leul Palace * Imperial Palace- Massa ...

.Wonderful Concert Halls in Europe
Echo, Neils Le Large The building was originally intended to be built of stone, but Horta made a new plan of

reinforced concrete Reinforced concrete (RC), also called reinforced cement concrete (RCC) and ferroconcrete, is a composite material in which concrete's relatively low tensile strength and ductility are compensated for by the inclusion of reinforcement having hig ...

with a steel frame. He had intended the concrete to be left exposed in the interior, but the final appearance did not meet his expectations, and he had it covered. It took more than a decade to complete the complex, which contains a large concert hall—the Henry Le Bœuf Hall—in an unusual ovoid, or egg shape. It is accompanied by a recital room, a

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small numb ...

room, lecture rooms, and a vast gallery for temporary exhibitions. He managed to put together this array of different functions on a rather small building plot with restricted conditions using more than eight building levels with a large part situated underground.

Contemporary (2000–present)

Since 2002, the Belgian federal intuition has chosen the brand name ''BOZAR'', which has eight artistic departments: ''BOZAR Expo'', ''BOZAR Music'', ''BOZAR Cinema'', ''BOZAR Dance'', ''BOZAR Theatre'', ''BOZAR Literature'', ''BOZAR Studios'' and ''BOZAR Architecture''. ''BOZAR'' is home to the

, the /, which invites the world's major orchestras and performers to appear at the Henry Le Bœuf Hall. The finals of the

Queen Elisabeth Competition The Queen Elisabeth Competition ( nl, Koningin Elisabethwedstrijd, french: Concours musical international Reine Élisabeth) is an international competition for career-starting musicians held in Brussels. The competition is named after Queen ...

for classical singers and instrumentalists, one of the most challenging and prestigious competitions of the kind, are also held there. Up to ten exhibitions a year are organised at ''BOZAR'', and have included

Jeff Wall Jeffrey Wall, Order of Canada, OC, Royal Society of Canada, RSA (born September 29, 1946) is a Canadian artist best known for his large-scale back-lit Cibachrome photographs and art history writing. Early in his career, he helped define the Van ...

Luc Tuymans Luc Tuymans (born 14 June 1958) is a Belgian visual artist best known for his paintings which explore people's relationship with history and confront their ability to ignore it. World War II is a recurring theme in his work. He is a key figure ...

Frida Kahlo Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (; 6 July 1907 – 13 July 1954) was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Inspired by the country's popular culture, ...

, Lucas Cranach,

Gilbert & George Gilbert Prousch, sometimes referred to as Gilbert Proesch (born 17 September 1943 in San Martin de Tor, Italy), and George Passmore (born 8 January 1942 in Plymouth, United Kingdom), are two artists who work together as the collaborative art du ...

Wim Delvoye Wim Delvoye (born 1965 in Wervik, West Flanders) is a Belgian neo-conceptual artist known for his inventive and often shocking projects. Much of his work is focused on the body. As the critic Robert Enright wrote in the art magazine ''Border ...

Venetian Venetian often means from or related to: * Venice, a city in Italy * Veneto, a region of Italy * Republic of Venice (697–1797), a historical nation in that area Venetian and the like may also refer to: * Venetian language, a Romance language s ...

Flemish Masters Flemish painting flourished from the early 15th century until the 17th century, gradually becoming distinct from the painting of the rest of the Low Countries, especially the modern Netherlands. In the early period, up to about 1520, the painting ...

, Keith Haring and "It's not only rock'n'roll Baby".

Directors

Robert, 7th Duke d'Ursel Robert-Marie-Léon 7th Duke d'Ursel (1873–1955) was a Belgian politician.État présent de la noblesse belge, Annuaire 2013, Bruxelles, 2013 p.5 Family He was the son of Marie Joseph Charles, 6th Duke d'Ursel. He married in 1898 to Sabine Fr ...

, President of the Centre for Fine Arts * 1974–1986

Karel Geirlandt Karel may refer to: People * Karel (given name) * Karel (surname) * Charles Karel Bouley, talk radio personality known on air as Karel * Christiaan Karel Appel, Dutch painter Business * Karel Electronics, a Turkish electronics manufacturer * Gr ...

, Director-General of exhibitions of the Centre for Fine Arts * 1998–2021: Etienne Davignon, President of the Centre for Fine Arts * 2002–2021:

Paul Dujardin Paul Dujardin may refer to: * Paul Dujardin (water polo) * Paul Dujardin (art historian) Paul Dujardin (born 1963) is an art historian and between 2002 and 2021, director-general of BOZAR in Brussels. Career In 1986 he became a graduate in art h ...

, Director-General of ''BOZAR'' * 15 October 2021–29 May 2022: Sophie Lauwers, Director-General of ''BOZAR'' for a brief period of seven months

Facilities

Hall, with seating capacity for 2,200 * Chamber Music Room, with seating capacity for 476 * Victor Horta Hall (Great Sculpture Hall) * Studio Recital Hall, with seating capacity for 210 * Salle Terarken, a multi-purpose hall * Exhibition rooms

Gallery

File:Bozar 02.JPG, Vestibule File:Brussel Bozar Grote zaal Henry Le Boeuf 29-01-2019.jpg, Henry Le Boeuf Hall File:Brussels Bozar exhibition room.jpg, Exhibition hall File:Bozar 29-01-2019 13-40-10.jpg, Interior File:New year's event 2018 in BOZAR (14).jpg, Window

References

Notes

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Centre For Fine Arts, Brussels Buildings and structures completed in 1928 Concert halls in Belgium Culture in Brussels Museums in Brussels Victor Horta buildings Event venues established in 1928 1928 establishments in Belgium Art Deco architecture in Belgium City of Brussels